Sony explains Emmy confusion

PS3 News | It was all just a misunderstanding you see.

Earlier in the week Sony sent out a press release stating that they'd won an emmy for the PlayStation 3 Sixaxis controller.

A day later the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) hit back, stating that the Sixaxis didn't win an Emmy, the award was in fact for the PlayStation 2 Dual Shock Controller.

Sony PR spokesman Dave Karraker has told Next-Gen.biz that he "accepted the award myself and all they said was that the award was for 'technological innovation for device controller, but looking back, they never really did say for which one." Bizarrely, The NATAS had approved Sony's original press release, which is where all the confusion began. We're guessing the NATAS won't be so quick to give out awards to games companies next time.

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19 Comments

Gtpod

5 years ago

Why specifically the PS2 DualShock?

I've never played a PS2; is there actually a technological (not aesthetic, they look far too similar for that to have been specifically innovative) step-up from PS1's DualShock to PS2's? Since, surely there's no innovation in 1:1 mimicking 3-year old technology. Even though the PS1 isn't current gen, they could've just awarded it to DualShock.

renegadesx

5 years ago

I guess the award could go to not really changing the controller, personally for keeping the same shape they should have gotten a slap in the face, not an emmy

Karai Pantsu

5 years ago

"We're guessing the NATAS won't be so quick to give out awards to games companies next time."

Or they could start actually reading press releases before approving them?

Ellegarden

5 years ago

GTPod wrote

Why specifically the PS2 DualShock?

Because it has rumble?

Juztin

5 years ago

lol NATAS is in the 4400 TV show but they are a government base facility

ObsoletE

5 years ago

GTPod wrote

Why specifically the PS2 DualShock?

Analogue Buttons: apparently features that aren't used are award winning.

iirc, the DS2 controllers had 2 speeds for each of the motors, resulting in more variety in feed-back, whereas the original DS only had 1 speed per motor. maybe that was it?

DrTim

5 years ago

I think it was for the very fact that the design DIDN'T change between PSOne and PS2. Something like "classic design" or something.

Gtpod

5 years ago

UmbrellaCEO wrote

GTPod wrote

Why specifically the PS2 DualShock?

Because it has rumble?

The PS1 pad has stereo rumble, hence the name 'DualShock'.

ObsoletE wrote

iirc, the DS2 controllers had 2 speeds for each of the motors, resulting in more variety in feed-back, whereas the original DS only had 1 speed per motor. maybe that was it?

Yeah that seems to be it; according to Wiki, it also introduced pressure sensitivity. Considering also that it was the first controller of the last gen to release, there's an Emmy nomination right there I guess.

ObsoletE

5 years ago

wow - just looked at the wiki article, gg at Sony's original DS patent having 3-axis motion detection. (X, Y and Z acceleromters.)

1997... guess that was about the time the Sidewinder Freestyle was in development.

wobbler

5 years ago

ObsoletE wrote

GTPod wrote

Why specifically the PS2 DualShock?

Analogue Buttons: apparently features that aren't used are award winning.

iirc, the DS2 controllers had 2 speeds for each of the motors, resulting in more variety in feed-back, whereas the original DS only had 1 speed per motor. maybe that was it?

Analog buttons? I never knew that the ps2 controller had them.

ObsoletE

5 years ago

yeah, the 4 face, 4 shoulder and the D-Pad buttons are all supposedly pressure-sensitive.

but with the exception of only a handful of games, they're completely useless.

the Gran Turismos are really the only games i can think of that i used them, for pumping brakes.

wobbler

5 years ago

Oh, thats why I never noticed because I always set the right analog stick for acceleration and braking, Even on the X360

Ellegarden

5 years ago

GTPod wrote

UmbrellaCEO wrote

GTPod wrote

Why specifically the PS2 DualShock?

Because it has rumble?

The PS1 pad has stereo rumble, hence the name 'DualShock'.

Maybe it wasnt strong enough for "pleasure" or maybe when they saw black they couldnt go back.

Ok I have no idea, but it might be the design its more compact than my old one and nice too. Also forgot it has button sensitivity, something which gamecube or xbox controller had but rarely emulated.

Karai Pantsu

5 years ago

ObsoletE wrote

I know for a fact that the XBOX buttons had 255 levels of sensitivity - I'd imagine that the PS2 ones would be similar. But yeah, it came as a surprise to me too the first time I saw a dev-tool showing the pressure feedback for button presses in real time. It's a shame that it wasn't used much, but on the flipside it'd be a bitch to implement effectively.

5 years ago

NATAS originally offered to grant an EMMY to Phil Harrison, Kaz Hirai and Ken Kutaragi for their roles as total twats in the block buster "Reversal of Fortune" but the nomination for Philly boy and Kaz was pulled off at the last minute because of the steamy hot tub scene (How could Ken hold his breat that long?).

Nominations for Best Special Effect also went to Sony for the unbelievable number of micro explosions used in the highly entertaining number: "Laptop Dancer on fire" This one really had the crowd on the edge of their seats jumping!

BTW: Is it true that Dick & Fanny where both fired on set?

Best fiction was a close one (as there where many fictional entries from Sony) but the bizarre Sci-Fi mystery directed by Ken Kutaragi "It comes from the 4th Dimension" was a real cack!

Anyhoo... back to the controller confusion;

Sony did end up winning the SixAxis Zigheil award for the best media dictatorship soundtrack "Rootkit you 2" which was particularly popular in Canada. Excellent sound track if you listen for the undertones (sounds kind-a like a modem beeping in the background) Techno that's Sweeeeet as!

InvivnI

5 years ago

ObsoletE wrote

Metal Gear Solid 3 used them extensively.

Eyce

5 years ago

If it was specifically for the rumble in Sony's DualShock Controller - Why are they awarding a Patent Infringement?

Ellegarden

5 years ago

Eyce wrote

If it was specifically for the rumble in Sony's DualShock Controller - Why are they awarding a Patent Infringement?

Same could go for wii or 360 (not this award but science one) but more wii.

There's no place no legality or beucracy(sp?) in the Emmy's thats for the court.

Kikujir0

5 years ago

So the Dual shock controllers are the only ones to have rumble? I remember N64 came with Rumble packs =D pewpew Lylat Wars FTW!

Im sad they took out the rumble in the PS3 controllers, truth be told I guess it didnt really need it.. maybe.. although I do like pressing the PS button! A nice screen comes up with pretty writing ..